More Friends

One of James’s patients who became a family friend was Annabelle Fagan, who had first been James’s patient in Galveston. She had a very marked, uncontrollable tremor. More like a convulsive pattern.

James had helped her considerably, and she begged to come to Fort Worth with us for his care. After we were settled in Fort Worth she came, had a room a few blocks from us and helped with our housework and sat with Carolyn some. I don’t remember the financial arrangements.

We met another of our good friends, John Clements, through his sister, who was one of James’ patients. John C. was newly back from China and lonely. He introduced us Chinese friends in Fort Worth who were just beginning a restaurant business—only Chinese place in town. It was on Magnolia Street. (That street runs parallel to Rosedale, and was the main street south of the hospital at that time. Rosedale had not been made a through street.)

He took us there often in their special room and they prepared dishes that were not on their regular menu.

As for the other restaurants we went to in those days, we all enjoyed the Colonial Cafeterias. There was one on Pennsylvania, near the hospital where we ate a lot. Often we’d stop there on the way home from church.

James and I had season tickets to the TCU games along with Edgar and Waneta Ezell, Bruce and Dottie Beard, and Ken and Mary Kellam. The eight of us never missed a game.

Bruce Beard, and his wife Dottie, though, were our best friends. Bruce did his internship in Indiana and Dottie’s best friend in Indiana was Phyllis, who came to visit them every summer when her teaching job was vacationing.

Dottie and Phyl came by to visit one afternoon , and John Clements was there. Phyl and John became very good friends—in no time they were married. Phyl moved to Texas, and they lived on a ranch near Crowley, south of Fort Worth.

We have been very close friends with John and his family since. James, Carolyn, and I went out to visit them often. James hunted dove there in the fall.

Aunt Eva had recommended Broadway Baptist to James and I when we moved to Fort Worth. The Ezells joined Broadway soon after I did. The Kellams also joined Broadway soon after we met them. (The Beards went to First Methodist).

Broadway has always met my need for worship. I think it met our children’s needs as they grew up there, too. It has always been a progressive church, and lately (1990s) they have removed their worship from the controversial Southern Baptist Convention.